SOUTH AKRON — Fielding Dreams is a youth academy that uses sports to teach the “foundations of success in life,” according to company owner and CEO Shaun Piper.

Piper said Fielding Dreams, which will begin its first session later this summer, offers a football and cheerleading program to build four core values — cooperation, leadership, discipline and self-control.

“We combine fitness, instruction, competition and education to achieve these goals,” said Piper. “We give the kids quality services all in one place.”

Piper said the program will start with football and cheerleading, but he hopes to expand into other sports in the near future. He added the program offers a physical activity that leads not only to healthy children and to lifelong health, but a sports program that aids in social development of youth.

Piper said the program has three age groups — ages 8 and younger, 10 and younger and 12 and younger — for the sports activities, which will take place at the former Rubber Bowl, located at 800 George Washington Blvd. in South Akron. The program includes one hour of study time with help from student teachers. This portion of the program allows students to do homework or study.

Afterward, students participate in a 45-minute fitness program that includes information on nutrition and healthy eating practices, and they then move onto tackle football and cheer practice. Piper added students in the program do not do any kind of weight lifting.

Football students will get a personalized jersey and cleats and play in two tournaments outside of the regular season. Cheerleaders will get a uniform and shoes and compete in two tournaments outside of the regular season.

The Fielding Dreams Akron Browns football team and the Lady Browns cheerleaders will travel to participate in competitions in and out of Ohio, according to Piper.

Students from Akron to Canton are invited to participate, with busing available for those who live within a 10-mile radius from the Rubber Bowl, for the program, which will run Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Parents pick up children at the end of the session.

The next session will start in August and can run as late as December if a team makes the national championships, which will take place in Kissimmee, Florida. National Championship participation is at no extra cost to the students, according to Piper.

Fielding Dreams will host an open house July 12 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Rubber Bowl to provide students and their parents with more information and an opportunity to register.

Piper said he is also looking for coaches, team managers and an athletic trainer to assist the teams. For details, call Fielding Dreams at 330-801-4150.

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